Bracelet-extension device



p 1930. A. H. BARROWMAN 1,774,544

BRACELET EXTENSION DEVICE Filed Aug. 11, 1928 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEYS.

section.

Patented Sept. 2, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTHUR H. BARROWMAN, O13 ATTLEBORO, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR'TO J. M. FISHER COMPANY, OI ATTLEBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND BRACELET-EXTENSION DEVICE Application filed August 11, 1928. Serial No. 298,966.

10 extension by unfolding of its sections.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means at each end of the device for securely holding the sections in folded position.

The invention further consists in the combination of a unit link bracelet and an extension device, the latter being so formed as to slidably receive one of the bracelet units therein and permit an elastic extension there' 20 of, so that the continuity and flexibility of the bracelet will be substantially the same whether in extended or contracted position.

lVith these and other objects in View, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully de- 30 in folded position.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the extension in; unfolded position.

Fig. 3 is a central sectional view on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the housing or "channel-shaped section partially broken away to showthe abutment therein.

5 is a perspective view of the frame which is slidably mounted in the channel Fig.6 is an end view showing the lingers on one end section frictionally gripping the sides of the channel section.

In the use of watch straps or bracelets to encircle the wrist, especially those used to secure a watch on the arm, it is desirable to afford some means to enlarge the size of thebracelet or strap so that the same may be passed over the hand of the wearer without I detaching and separating any of the parts,

thereof, and in order to provide such a construction, I have hingedly connected together a plurality of sections and in one of these sections, I have resiliently mounted a slide so that an elastic action is provided to afford comfort to the wearer and in connection with this slide the housing therefor is of a size to receive one of the unit links of the bracelet so that as the elastic extension takes place the bracelet does not change in appearance or in its flexibility; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawings, 10 designates the channel or housing section which is provided with a bottom wall 11 and side walls 12 which slidably receive a frame 13 generally rectangular in shape with an opening 14 centrally disposed therein. An abutment 15 is cut and raised from the stock of the bottom wall 11 and extends into the opening 14 to limit the sliding movement of the frame 13. A spring 14 encircles the frame 13 and engages the abutment 15 to act between it'and the lateral projections 16 on the slide frame 13 to move it inwardly from its free end to which the bracelet is attached. These laterally extending abutments 16 are of a dimension to slidingly engage the walls 12 and guide the frame in its movement so as to prevent amming of the spring against the side walls 12. The frame and spring are retained in the housing section 10 by inwardly extending flanges 19 which extend over the sides of the spring and-frame to prevent displacement thereof and also serve to more completely house the unit end link 18 of the bracelet.

An end 17 is formed on this frame 13 which is of any suitable shape such as T-shaped to provide a means for connecting a unit link 18 of the bracelet thereto and by means of which the end link 18 is drawn into the housing section 11. r

The permitted elastic extension of the frame is sufiicient to expose the unit link which is housed therein and as the housed end link .18 w uld carry th same namentation as the remaining link with which it is assembled, the same continuity of appearance would be maintained whether the device were elastically extended or contracted.

The bottom wall 11 of the channel section is slotted as at 20 and the intermediate section 21 has an end portion 22 extending thru the slot 20 and rolled about the cross bar 23 formed by this slot to hingedly connect the intermediate section 21 thereto.

The end section 24 is of an ornamental configuration and has resilient backwardly or downwardly extending lingers 25 arranged in pairs at each end thereof to serve as a. means for connecting both ends of the section, 2a to both ends of the section 10 when the sections are folded together by resiliently frictionally engaging the side walls 12 of the section, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. One pair of arms is provided with an opening 26 to receive the laterally extending trunnions 27 of the intermediate plate 21 to hingedly conned the same therei to, while the other pair of fingers is provided with openings 27 and receive a suitable connection 28 to pivotally secure an end of the bracelet to the end section 2%.

The section 24 in addition to being of an ornamental shape may be pierced as at 30, or otherwise ornamented to conform to the general theme of ornamentation present on the remaining links of the bracelet and in instances where the ornamentation is formed by piercing, it is of advantage to have the intermediate link of substantially the same outline as the ornamental end link 2 so that the piercings will. be completely hacked and give the same appearance to the top of the device throughout its entire extent.

The intermediate section is ofesheet metal construction and bent as illustrated in Fig. 3, so that the greater portion of said section is offset from the channel shaped section that while hinged to the bottom wall. of the channel section 10, it will also overlie the side walls 12 and their inturned flanges 19 of this section and snugly lit against the top surface of the section to give a uniform appearance to any nercings which the top wall may have and to take up the minimum amount of space as to the thickness in the construction.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An extension device comprising end sections and an intermediate section hinged at each end to said end sections to permit folding one over the other, means for securing one end of a bracelet to one of said end sections, and means for securing the other end of the bracelet to another of the end sections, each end of one of said end sections being provided with a pair of fingers to resiliently rip the sides of each corresponding end of the other end section to hold the sections in folded position, the fingers provided adjacent the hinged end having a portion positioned to engage the other end section. between the hinge connection and the lingers provided at the opposite end.

2. An extension device comprising end sections and an intermediate section hinged at each end to said end sections to permit foldin one over the other, one of said end sections being generally channel shape, means for securing one end of the bracelet thereto, another of said end sections being provided with a pair of lingers at each of its ends to resiliently grip the side walls of the channel section at its oppo te ends to hold the sectio is in folded position, and means for securing another end of the bracelet thereto, the lingers provided adjacent the hinged end having a portion positioned to engage the other end section between the hinge connection and the lingers provided at the opposite end.

3. An extension device comprising a plurality of sections hinged together end to end to fold one over the other, one of the end sections being generally channel shape, means for securing one end of the bracelet thereto, the other end section being provided with a pair of lingers at each of its ends to extend over the walls of the channel section and hold the same in folded position, and means for securing another end of the bracelet thereto, one pair of fingers serving as a point of hinging connection for the section to the adjacent section.

t. An extension device comprising a plurality of sections hinged together end to end to fold one over the other, one of the end sec tions being generally channel shape in cross section, a frame having an opening therein and movable between the side walls of said channel section, means for attaching one end of the bracelet thereto, an abutment carried by said channel section extending into said opening, guiding means on said frame, a. spring acting between the abutment and the guiding means to permit elastic enlargement oi the bracelet, inwarally-extending flanges on each of the side walls of the channel section to retain the frame and spring therein, and means to attach another end of the bracelet to the other end section.

5. An extension device comprising a plurality of sections hinged together end to end to fold one over the other, one of the end sections being generally channel shape in cross section, a generally rectangular frame having an open center slidably mounted between the side Walls of said channel section, an integral extension on said frame ofa shape to provide means of attachment of one end of a bracelet, an integral abutment cut and raised from the stock of the channel section and extending into the open center of the frame to limit its sliding movement, a spring encircling said frame and engaging the same and said abutment t0 permit'elastic enlargement of the bracelet, inwardly extending flanges on each of the side Walls of the channel section to retain the frame and spring therein, and means to attach another end of the bracelet to the other end section.

6. An extension device comprising end sections hingedly connected together by an intermediate section, means for connecting ends of a bracelet to said end sections, one end section being generally channel shape in cross-section and having bottom and side Walls, said intermediate section being hinged to said bottom Wall and formed of sheet stock With its greater portion offset with re spect to the plane of the bottom Wall of the channel section to overlie the edges of the side Walls of said channel section.

7. An extension device comprising an end section of ornamental shape, means for connecting an end of a bracelet thereto, another end section being channel shape, and housing means to elastically connect another end of the bracelet therein, an intermediate sheet metal section hinged to the bottom Wall of said channel section With its greater portion offset with respect to the plane of the bottom Wall of the channel section and of a Width to overlie the side Walls thereof, said intermediate section being hinged to said ornamental end section and of generally the shape thereof.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ARTHUR H. BARROWMAN. 

